Increased sales focus with new manufacturing plant and retail facility for Whittley

March 21, 2019

LONGSTANDING Australian boat builder Whittley Marine and the Group’s retail sales arm Whittley Victoria Sales have moved into a new purpose-built facility in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

The large site boasts the most advanced, modern and lean fiberglass trailer boat manufacturing facility in the country, whilst featuring a new industry leading sales and service facility; all on the one site. The new site will secure a strong sales and manufacturing future for the 65-plus year old family owned business, as it continues its expansion plans in 2019.

Genevieve Whittley, Sales Assistant at Whittley Marine had this to say about the exciting news. “2018 has been a strong year for the Whittley Company, in a tough market for new boat sales we have increased our sales of new boat packages. The new facility was an essential move to ensure that the business continues to prosper and build the highest quality of boats. The new facility enables Whittley Marine to adopt industry best manufacturing processes, offer new R&D tooling facilities as well as an automotive standard sales showroom. These key and exciting changes roll out into the market in 2019, ensuring our position as a market leader in fiberglass boat building can continue.”

Whittley Victoria Sales operates as the sales arm for the Group’s manufacturing business and offers Victorian customers a unique buying experience. Whittley Victoria Sales sell the full range of Whittley fiberglass boats and Clearwater alloy boats, powered by Yamaha Outboards and Volvo Penta Stern Drives. The sales arm are also authorized dealers for Mackay and Dunbier Trailers as well as Garmin and Fusion electronics. With Victoria’s largest range of new fiberglass boat packages on display, and the largest new boat sales and manufacturing site in the state, when taking to the water potential customers should consider a Whittley and being involved in your new boats build process.

Ms Whittley, continued to say that. “The new show room and sales area was modeled on the high standards of the automotive industry dealerships. It sets a new benchmark for new boat sales in the state, offering a unique opportunity where potential customers can come in to review our full range of boats undercover, whilst also seeing the manufacturing process of how a new boat is built. You can literally see a drum of resin be delivered on a truck, then the product in build and finally being handed over onsite; being exposed to the whole process before making the decision to purchase.”

Not only is the Group’s retail arm benefiting from the move, but the new facility also opens up larger R&D and tooling areas for new model development and increased production capacity for supply to the local market. All of the Group’s 12 hull platforms and 15 different models are now produced in the new facility, with all other key areas of the business now conducted on site, including: upholstery, fiberglassing, assembly, wood shop, engine fit up, stores and administration.

“We are an Australian family, building boats here in Victoria for our unique and tough boating conditions for Australian families. The company is proud of its manufacturing heritage and this move ensures a stronger manufacturing business and one that is both committed to growth but also sustainability into the future, implementing best practices across the complete manufacturing process. I encourage all new boat buyers to come and see how we build our boats before making a decision to purchase. It’s an interesting process and one that in today’s world, you don’t get to see very often.” Ms Whittley added.

Momentum is building around the Whittley brand for 2019, leading into the national boat show season. Whittley Marine plans to have a grand opening sale for the new facility in May 2019 with dates and special deals to be announcing shortly. With additional new model announcements set for release at this year’s 2019 Melbourne Boat Show.

For a unique new boat buying experience visit the Whittley Victoria Sales show room and Whittley Marine manufacturing facility, at 12-14 Somerton Park Drive, Campbellfield, Victoria, 3061, or call 03 8339 1800 for more information.